The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-01-27
LEGISLATIVE.
SENATOR oIAIRoRNE's c,,,p1,

To Prevent Gambling in Grain, Stocks,
Petroleum, Wool, Cotton and Provi-
sions.
Section l. Be it enacted by the legisla-
ture OF the state OF Texas, That all con-
tracts and agreements, no matter by what
name designated, by which any person
shall contract or offer to sell. or to buy,
or to offer to buy, -four, corn, wheat, or
gram of any kind, wool OF cotton, or
meat, fresh or salt, dry or green, smoked
or not, the ownership of the same not
being IN the same, and has not the prop
erty on hand to deliver upon such sale, or
when the purchaser of the same so con-
tracing to buy or offering to buy the
same has not the means to pay, or does
not intend actually to deliver or to receive
and pay for the same, are hereby de-
clared illegal contracts and agreements,
against public policy, and null and void.
Section 2. All such contracts, agree
ments and offers to sell or buy, as we'll as
all transactions in stocks, pGtroleum,w wool,
cotton, the grains and provisions afore-
said, by margins" or futures" are hereby
declar ed gambling and criminal acts,
whether the person buying or selling, or
Offering to buy or sell, acts for himself, OF
as agent or broker for any firm, company
or brokers' Office, person or corporation;
and any person upon conviction thereof,
in any court of competent jurisdiction
shall be fined for each otfense not less
than one hundred dollars nor more than
one thousand dollars, and in addition
thereto be imprisoned in the county Jail
of the county wherein the otfense was
committed, for period of not less than
thirty nor more than ninety days; and it
shall be the duty of the judges of the
several courts of this state,
having jurisdiction hereof, at every
regular term of said courts, to give this
act specially in charge to the grand jury.
Section g. 1t shall not be necessary, in
order to commit said crime, that both
buyer and seller shall exist or agree, but
the same crime shall be complete against
any person selling or Offering to sell in
dividually, whether his offer to sell is ac-
ce pied or not; and any person who shall
communicate, receive, exhibit or display,
in any manner, any such offer to so buy
or sell, or any statements or quotations
of the prices of any such margins, futures
or options, shall, for each such otfense,
be deemed and held to be an accessory
thereto, and upon conviction thereof shall
be fined and imprisoned the same as the
principal; and any such company, cor
poration or person permitting any smell
communication, reception, exhibit or dis
play, shall, for each such permission, for
felt iothe com mon school fund the sum Of
$500 to be collected in a civil action in
stituted by the prosecuting attorney OF
the county wherein such offense occurs OF
is permitted TO occur, and said crime
shall be complete against any person in
dividually, whether his offer is accepted
or not, purchasing or Offering to pur.
chase, and any person so Offering may be
prosecuted and convicted individually
provided, nothing in this act shall apply
to, or interfere with, legitimate business
transactions in the regular course of trade
And whoever knowingly permits any OF
the gambling acts, aforesaid, in his build
ing, house, or in any outhOuse, booth
arbor or erection of which he has the care
or possession, shall be fined not less than
$500 nor more than $1,000, and the same
shall be lien upon the premises.
Section 4. All laws or parts of laws in
conflict with the provisions Of this act are
hereby repealed.
Section g. Whereas, there is MO law af
liking ah appropriate penal*g fer gam
bling in grain, stocks. petroleum, WOO
cotton, aud provisions; and, whereas
there exists an imperative public emer
gencY and necessity that the constitution
al rule, requiring this bill TO be read OF
three several days, before its passage, b
suspended, and the same is hereby sus
pended and that this act shall take etfec
from and after its passage.
CHANGES IN THE LIBEL LAW.
Mr.. Robinson's libel bills, referred {,
in the house proceedings, are as follows
House Bill No. 246Au act TO limit tn
liability for damages in civil actions TO
libel:
Be it enacted by the state of Texas, Tha
in all civil actions for damages for libe
he truth of tho matter complained Of
shall constitute complete defeuse.
House Bill No. 249-An act to amend
the law of criminal libel, by repeating tn
following sections of the penal code, Sec
tions 625, 626. G27, 628 and 629, and enact
ing il lieu thereof section 625a, to read a
follows:
Section Goa IN all criminal pro5ecu
tions for libel the truth of the matte
complained of may be submitted in evi
dence, but shall constitute no defense ex-
cept when it shall appear from the evi
dence that the publication was mad
solely for the public good and without an,
malicious intent.
Also Sectlon 625b-Editors and pro
prietors and managers of newspapers ant
books shall be presumptively responsible
for any defamatory matter contained
therein, but may prove the publication
was without authority, or that the publ
cation was disavowed by such editor O.
proprietor as soon as discovered by sucl
editor or proprietor, or in a REASONABLE,
time thereafter.
INSTANTLY RELIEVED.
Mrs. Ann Lacour, of New Orleans, La.